Weather-strip.



I E 1 T. NR UT S R AB LH T. B W I APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 10, 1902.

F0 MODEL.

f/VVEN 727R 750+ 521 W TNE55E5-' UNITED STATES Patented July 14, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

JEAN B. A. LA JEUNESSE, OF ALAMEDA, CALIFORNIA.

WEATHER-STRIP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 733,489, dated July 14, 1903.

Application filed September 10,1902. Serial No. 122,870. (No model.)

To (all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J EAN BAPTISTE ADOLPHE LA J EUNESSE, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of the city and county of Alameda, in the State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Weather-Strips, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is a device for excluding violent weather conditions from beneath outside or exposed doors.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved device of this nature, one that is simple, efficient, and adjustable.

The accompanying drawings are an integral part of this specification for the purposes of illustration, in which like reference characters indicate like parts in the several figures.

Figures 1 and 2 are similar views, each being a perspective of the lower portion of a door (partly ajar) with myimproved weather-strip secured at the bottom of the outer face of each door and represented in its open or elevated position, the jambs adjacent to each door being broken away at the top. Taken severally, these figures are particularly intended to illustrate dififerent styles of a jambguard for the weather-strip, which guard is formed in or secured to the rabbet of the door-jambthat is, at the free edge of the door. Taken together, these same figures show a double door with a mullioned opening or central mnnnion jamb or pillar. Fig. 3 is an elevation of the lower part of the inner face of a door (and jambs) provided with my invention, this view showing the automatic actuating means of the invention and method of attachment. Fig. 4 is an outside detail elevation of the inner mechanism of my invention applied to the bottom of a door, the weather strip or door -strip proper being broken away to expose this mechanism. Fig. 5 is also a detail view illustrating the essential features of the invention in transverse elevation. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a slightly-different form of the invention. Fig. 7 is a perspective of an ordinary double door and the hinging jambs thereof, showing one door of the pair ajar and the other closed in order to illustrate both the open and closed aspects of the invention and a joint-lapping extension.

The weather-strip proper is a strip of thin metal, (herein marked A,) transversely convexed on its outer or exposed surface, but longitudinally straight. It is supplemented by a guard or shield B, similarly curved, but having its upper edge bent up when in position against the door 0 to form a vertical flange B This flange B is punched through at intervals for the reception of screws D, by means of which the guard B is secured to the door.

The weather-strip A is rendered firm and functionally operable by means of sectorshaped plates of same metal E, which are soldered or otherwise rigidly made fast at proper distances apart, each by its curved edge, to and transversely against the concave or inner face of the weather strip. These sectorshaped pieces E are each punched through near the conjunction of their two radii or straight edges, so as to constitute an eye for the insertion of a hinge-pin F, which hingepin also passes through corresponding apertures formed on or in boxing-clips G. (Best seen in Fig. 4, but shown in edge elevation in Fig. 5.) The sector-plates E are of course of the same radius as the curvature of the weather-strip A and, as seen, serve the double purpose of strengthening the weatherstrip and affording a hinging means for its radial reciprocation to and from the doorsill or its substitute functionally. The boxing or hearing clips G are shown two in number, one at each end of the hinge-pin F and near the bottom of the door. These clips are punched for screws H, by which they are secured to the door, as shown in Figs. at and 5. It is now apparent that the aforesaid sector-plates E, hinge-pin F, bearing-clips G, and screws H hold the weather-strip A horizontally in radially-acting hinge connection with the bottom of the door. By this arrangement the strip A is free to be'raised, so as to pass above the threshold when the door is being opened and also to drop behind the threshold and in contact therewith (or with the door sill or step) when the door is closed. The dropping of the weather-strip functionally when the door is closed is effected by the means to be now explained.

By referring to Fig. 5 it will be seen that a transverse notch J is cut through the bottom of the door 0. Through this notch the long arm of an L-shaped lever K passes horizontally from the inner side of the door outward almost to contact with the concave face of the weather-strip A,and the shorterarm of the said lever is disposed squarely downward from the longer arm (or about vertically) and has its lower end almost in contact with the floor or carpet. This lever K is horizontally pivoted or hinged to the inner face of the door by means of a lngged clip L and its pin M, which clip L is'secured to the inner face of the door just above the notch J, so as to admit of the free and positive vertical oscillation of the lever. Just beneath the outer end of the long arm of this lever K a small rod or elongated stud N passes horizontally through the before-mentioned sector-plates E and is secured to them, so that the downward pressure of the long arm of the lever operates to force down the rod or stud N, sectors E, and consequently the weatherstrip A. The long arm of the lever K being horizontally disposed and free to swing downward from its pivot M it always tends to gravitate in contact with the stud N when not otherwise forced against it, and is therefore always ready when the door is closed to perform its function of pressing down the weather-strip by the means next to be described.

A gain 0 is cut through the inner edge of the threshold, (the latter marked P in the drawings,) and into the outer part of the threshold, within the said gain 0, is driven a small screw Q. The latter is arranged so as to lie horizontally and transversly with relation to the threshold P and to have its head centrally opposite the lower end of the short arm of the lever K. The gain 0 and screw Q are so disposed and adapted relatively to this short or pendent end of the lever K that when the door is fully closed the said pendent end has contacted and pressed against the head of the screw Q in such a way as to be forced inward thereby, and con-. sequently to bring or pry down the long arm of the lever, and with it the weather-strip A. By the forcing in or retracting of the screw Q the desired depression of the Weather-strip is regulated.

Now for the automatic raising of the weather-strip A to pass the threshold P and to remain out of contact with the floor or carpet when the door 0 is open or is being swung either way I provide an upwardlyacting spiral spring R, which spring is wound around the hinging-pin F and secured at its idle end to the door bya'nail or screw S, while its free end impinges against the lower face of the stud N with sufficient upward pressure to force and maintain the weather-strip in its elevated position as soon as the short arm of the lever has been released from the screw Q by opening the door, which it is evident takes place immediately as the door begins to swing from its rabbet.

The construction represented by Fig. 6 is practically the same as that shown in the preceding views and described above, both having virtually the same elemental features. The main structural difference between them is that the sector-plates E of Figs. 4 and 5 are replaced in Fig. 6 by a single plate E formed with a lateral flange E by means of which it is both soldered and riveted along one edge to and longitudinally of the central part of the concave surface of the strip A. Like the sectors this plate is radially disposed (though lengthwise instead of crosswise) with relation to the curved strip A, and it is also secured at its other edge to the hinge-pin F, around which it is wrapped. The hinge-pin F,as in the previously-described construction, is journaled at the ends in boxing clips or bearings G, which are secured to the doorby the screws H behind the said plate E To allow these hearings to be screwed on first, and at the same time provide for the insertion therein of the ends of the hinge-pin F after the plate E is attached to it, I cut a notch in E, as shown at E in the lower left corner of Fig. 6. It will be seen that this notch F." admits of the left end of the hingepin F being pushed outward through the left bearing far enough to permit the right end of the said hinge-pin to enter the right hearing from its left side when applying the strip A after the said bearings have been fastened to the door. Now in order to prevent longitudinal play or displacement of the hinge-pin F and parts thereto attached, of which the notch E might be the cause, I use in this construction a third boxing clip or hearing G whose box portion, as seen, passes through a central notch E of the plate E wherein it holds the said hinge-pin centrally, and which clip thence runs upwardly and is fastened to the door under the shield 13. I make the fastening leaf or strap of the said third boxing clip or hearing G longer than the corresponding attaching means provided for the two end bearings G, so that when securing it in place it can be conveniently reached with a screwdriver or other required tool passing above the strip Abefore the shield B is applied to the door. The spring R in the present case bears on the under side of the plate E as at N the said plate taking the place of the aforesaid rod N, as well as of the sectors E. The effect, it will be recognized, is quite the same. This spring may be coiled around the hinge-pin F within the above mentioned notch E as shown, or at any other suitable point along the plate E The lever K likewise bears directly on the said plate E from the upper side thereof oppositely to the said spring B. Fig. 6 shows the forward arm of the said 1ever K passed through a square aperture E cut into the plate E on the lower edge of which aperture the said arm normally rests. As indicated by the dotted lines N the metal that is cut from the plate E in making this aperture for the lever K is bent back and down to reinforce that part of the plate,which reinforced part, it will be observed, fills the same oflice as the before-mentioned rod N with respect to the said levers forward arm. One advantage afforded by the use of this plate E in lieu of the sectors E lies in that the plate E presents a longer, more-continuous support for the longitudinal middle portion of the strip A, which bears against its flange and outer edge throughout theirlength, and therefore is somewhat better adapted to resist flexure or warping under all conditions of weather and hard usage.

For the free edge of single doors I provide the jamb-joint plate T (shown in Fig. 1) for the purpose of making a weather-proof joint at that end of the weather-strip. This jointplate is curved to accommodate the contacting form of the weather-strip and its shield 3 when the door is closed. It is secured at its lower end to the door-sill (or substitute) and at its upper end to and against the inner edge of the door-stop, in which latter case it is countersunk into the said stop. Fig. 2 illustrates a similar joint-closing provision T formed into or gained out of the jambrabbet.

In order to effect a good joint at the meeting edges of double doors provided with my weather-strips, such as the doors 0 0 Fig. 7, I prefer to make the weather strip A and guard B therefor, which are attached to the door that ordinarily remains bolted, a trifle longer at theirinner ends than the other weather-strip and guard carried by the other door, so that these extended ends will slightly project inward, as indicated at A B in said Fig. '7, and be thereby adapted to lap over the adjoining ends of said other weather-strip and guard when both doors are closed.

"What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

l. A device of the kind described comprising a strip transversely convexed on its outer or exposed surface and longitudinally straight, to be placed across the bottom of a door or other closure, a correspondinglyshaped shield secured to the door thereover, a hinge-pin and bearings therefor disposed across the door behind said strip, sectorplates having their curved ends made fast to the concave side of the strip and their other ends connected with said hinge-pin, arod or stud secured forwardly of the hinge-pin to some of said sector-plates, a spring fastened at one end to the door and exerting by its other end an upward pressure upon said stud, a screw driven into the threshold or sill on the side opposite that on which the strip operates, and a pivoted lever passing through and across the door, having one end disposed so as to come in contact with said screw and its other end adapted at the same time to press down on said stud oppositely to said spring, as the door shuts; substantially a specified. r

2. A device of the character described comprising a strip hinged to a door, meansfor holding said strip in an elevated position when the door is open, a stop secured to the under side of said strip, a lever fulcrumed in the door provided with an arm arranged to rest on the stop on said strip and with adown wardly extending arm arranged to abut against the threshold when the door is closed.

3. A device of the character described comprising a strip hinged to a door, a spring for holding said strip in an elevated position when the door is open, a stop secured to the under side of said strip, a lever fulcrumed in the door provided with an arm arranged to rest on the stop on said strip and a downwardlyextending arm, and an adjustable stop secured to the threshold, against which the downwardly-extending arm of the lever abuts when the door is closed.

at. A device of the character described comprising a strip transversely convexed 011 its outer surface and longitudinally straight, to be placed across the bottom of the door, a correspondingly-shaped shield secured to the door thereover, a radially-projecting plate secured to the under side of said convexed strip, a hinged connection between the edge of said radially-projecting plate and the door, means for holding the convexed strip in a raised position when the door is open, and a lever fulcrumed in said door provided with an arm arranged to rest on the side of the radially-projecting plate adjacent the door, and with an arm arranged to abut against the threshold when the door is closed.

5. A device of the character described comprising a strip transversely convexed on its outer surface and longitudinally straight, to be placed across the bottom of the door, a correspondingly-shaped shield secured to the door thereover, a plate secured at one edge to the under side of said convexed strip, andprovided on its other edge with a hinge-pin, bearings for said hinge-pin on the door, means for holding the convexed strip in an elevated position when the door is open and means for lowering said strip when the door is closed.

6. A device of the character described comprising a strip transversely convexed' on its outer surface and longitudinally straight arranged to be secured across a door, a correspondingly-shaped shield secured to the door thereover, a plate secured at one edge to the under side of said convexed strip, and provided on its other edge with a hinge-pin, bearings for said hinge-pin on the door, a spring bearing against the under side of said strip and arranged to hold it in an elevated position when the dooris open, a lever fulcrumed in the door provided with an arm arranged to rest on the upper side of said strip anda depending arm arranged to abut against the threshold when the door is closed.

7. A device of the character described comprising a strip transversely convexed on its outer surface and longitudinally straight, arranged to be secured across a door, a correspondingly-shaped shield secured to the door 10 from the bearings, means for holding the convexed strip in an elevated position when the dooris open and means for lowering said strip when the door is closed.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of 15 two subscribing witnesses.

I J. B. A. LA JEUNESSE. Witnesses:

A. H. STE. MARIE, HENRY B. LISTER. 

